By Zik Gbemre
Nothing to cheer in the release of Ewu Traditional Ruler. The arrest and detention of the Ewu king by the military was unlawful, unnecessary and uncalled for.
Nothing to jubilate for when Okuama locals are still living in bushes like wild animals. Is it not shameful that Urhobo traditional rulers who ought to go to Abuja to protest the arrest of their co-traditional ruler are busy celebrating with Gbaramatu King for his “Amaseikumor” traditional festival while Ewu traditional ruler was being unlawfully held by military.
What stops Urhobo traditional rulers from going to Abuja to meet with President Tinubu for the unlawful arrest and detention of one of them?
I am pleased for the release of the Ewu traditional ruler by military through the efforts of Senator Ede Dafinone, Senator Ned Nwoko and many others,including Urhobo Historical Society(UHS) and me.
Do we thank President Tinubu and the military for the release? Of course no, because no crime was committed by the Ewu traditional ruler in the first place.
For declaring Ewu king wanted by military and his arrest is what I term as ‘military rascallity’. There was no reason to detain him in the first instance.
There was no reason for the soldiers to have left their duty posts in Utorogu Gas Plant in Delta for that ‘questionable peace mission in Okuama’ that led to killing of soldiers, killing of Okuama people, the sacking of the entire Okuama community of Ughelli South LGA in Delta and taking of refuge by surviving Okuama people living in bushes without shelter, food, water and medicines.
No reasonable person is happy for loss of lives of any person including the soldiers and civilians. The question now is when are the soldiers quitting Okuama community for the Okuama locals to return to their native ancestral home community?
And secondly the military should tell Nigerian public who was behind the ‘failed questionable peace mission?’ And if the Okuama locals return home will they live outside like wild animals? What plans do President Bola Tinubu and Governor Sheriff Oborevwori have to rehabilitate the people going through tough times in the bushes?
Tinubu and his military should order soldiers to quit Okuama community to enable the Okuama locals to return and live peaceful lives. The soldiers should keep strictly to their constitutional roles and allow police to do its duties.
The military should return to the barracks and focus on how to end terrorism in Northern Nigeria.
Zik Gbemre
April 20,2024
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